6 killed in deadly storms, tornadoes in US

Houston, Oct 31: Deadly storms, tornadoes and flash floods have wreaked havoc in the US state of Texas in the last two days, killing at least six persons, officials said today.

After another round of strong storms and heavy rain spawned three tornadoes and dangerous flooding in the waterlogged state, the death toll rose to six as more bodies were recovered, according to officials.

The deadly storms along with downpours and heavy winds moved east yesterday, leaving behind a path of destruction.

A stretch of the Southeast from eastern Texas to the southwest corner of Alabama was under flash flood warnings and watches, according to the National Weather Service, which warned the region could anticipate "damaging winds, hail and isolated short-lived tornadoes."

Three people in Travis County, near Austin, were killed after being washed away by floodwaters Friday, county officials said.

Another person died after his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters at Joint Base San Antonio Camp Bullis in Bexar County, officials said.

The City of Houston said it was investigating reports of two weather-related fatalities, but the cause of the deaths was not immediately known.

In Travis County, one body was found Friday night and two bodies were found yesterday. One of the bodies found yesterday of was a woman in her 60s who was swept away from her home with her husband.

The husband was found alive. According to their granddaughter, the man had asked his wife to "just grab onto anything possible" when the flood hits as she couldn't swim.

Harris County, nearly 200 miles to the east of Travis County, bore the brunt of the dangerous weather early yesterday.

A tornado swept through parts of Friendswood, about 32 kilometres south of Houston, carrying winds topping 100 mph in some spots, according to the National Weather Service.

Houston emergency management officials said bayous and creeks would remain swollen through at least this morning, even after the rain had stopped by yesterday evening.

They warned families out celebrating Halloween to keep trick-or- treaters far away from flooded areas. More than 40 structures here had been flooded as of yesterday, the city's office of emergency management said.

The Houston Fire Department said they had conducted more than 130 high water rescues in 12 hours.

PTI